Posts filed under 'Kennedy'
When I tell say that sentence to most people, they think I’m crazy, nuts, have gone off the deep end, etc. People my parents’ age especially think I’m nuts because they have visions of a cloth rag with diaper pins you have to stick in your hair in order for them to be sharp anymore. They also think of diapering services and hanging laundry to dry on a clothesline.
NOT ANYMORE!
We have some good friends that helped us make the switch. In fact, we were completely oblivious to the world of cloth diapering until we went over to their house and noticed their then 15 month-old son’s diaper cover was sticking out of his shorts and we said, “Is he wearing training pants?” They told us no, but we really didn’t ask anything about it. So then we started hearing more and more about cloth diapers and the revolutionary technology that has evolved into the 20th century cloth (no kidding). I actually read some websites that made me not want to switch, because they talked about the labor-intensive process of soaking, laundering, and folding. But the more and more I talked with actual people, they assured me that it was possible to still have a life and cloth diaper their kids at the same time.
So in a nutshell, here are the reasons why we switched.
1. We didn’t want to create so much waste. There is so much household waste and most American families do use disposable diapers. I haven’t asked each of them why, nor will I ever get to, but I believe most families like the ease and convenience of disposables, without thinking of the cost of the rising landfills. After switching to cloth, we only have 1 trashbag in our big trashcan each week, whereas before (with 2 kids in diapers) we had 3-4. Many people think that we should not worry about taking care of our earth, because God will take care of and provide for everything we need. But, since it does belong to the LORD, so why shouldn’t we have the reverence and respect to take care of His creation?
2. We wanted to save money. What about the start-up cost? Yes, it’s costly, but so is having a baby. We will easily make up the difference in six months, and if we have another kid or 2, we won’t have to pay it again. Not true with disposables. What about the trade-off in water costs? Our water bill has not changed in the six weeks we’ve been using cloth.
3. We knew it was better for the kids’ hygiene. Statistically, kids that are cloth-diapered learn to use the potty faster. And, when Colby wore disposables, he had several diaper rashes in his lifetime, and we had to get two different prescription creams (and two different doctor’s office visits) in order for it to clear up. Now, he rarely gets a rash, and if he does, it clears up much quicker.
4. We wanted the convenience. It’s convenient, you say? Yes! We don’t have to rush out and get diapers at midnight! I mean, we’re already washing clothes every day anyway, so why not throw another load on? And, we bought the one-size-fits-all, so Colby and Kennedy wear the same diapers and we adjust the sizes with snaps.
So, let me show you what these wonderful things are. (From the Cotton Babies website, Bum Genius diapers
There are tabs and snaps and elastic, oh my! My mom and dad think these diapers are the best thing since sliced bread, and I kind of agree. I really think another reason most American (or non-American!) families don’t use cloth is because they do have the preconceived notions I mentioned earlier. They don’t know how companies have spent millions trying to perfect their product and make it easier for Moms to make a difference in the environment. Ignorance is NOT bliss, in fact, it’s just ignorance.
We do owe a lot to the Supercinskis - they let us borrow diapers to try out. What great friends! We were able to use the diapers for both kids and then wash and dry them. Cloth diapering is pretty much the same as “regular” diapering, but with a better purpose in mind. I highly recommend it.
October 5th, 2007
I’m not sure who first said that, but I’d like to guess that it was a Mom of small children. Last week when we were traveling back home from Galveston, both kids were fussy and so I hopped in the back seat and sat in the middle of them. I gave Kennedy her pacifier and let her hold my fingers, which is what she likes to do to fall asleep. I leaned Colby’s seat back and gave him his cup to drink. Then Kevin and I started talking and I noticed they had stopped crying. They were both asleep! I breathed a sigh of relief and then looked at their sweet angelic faces. Tears poured from my eyes. I realized that in that moment, “All was right with the world.” I held hands with them and said a prayer of thanksgiving to God for blessing me with such wonderful children.
I know I can’t always make everything right for them, nor will I be able to in the future, but I am so glad to be their Mommy. God has given me such a great responsibility for them and I only hope I will make Him happy.
Can you guess what time it is right now? *shhhh!* Yep, naptime. Indeed, “All is right with the world.”
July 27th, 2007
This morning Colby asked if he could have some juice. “Peez, Mama,” he said. So I filled up his cup and we went to Kennedy’s room, where I was putting away some of her clothes. Kennedy was sitting in her rocker and Colby sat down next to her and said, “Say prayers, Ken-dee?” Then he put his finger into her closed fist, bowed his head, closed his eyes, and started praying, “Dear God, thank you for food, thank you for Ken-dee, and Mommy and Daddy, AAAA-men.” And with that, he lay down on the floor and started drinking his juice. Kennedy smiled.
I only wish I had a picture. :-) But, I’m confident that won’t be the only time Colby will pray with his little sister. I am so glad I got to witness this first hand and not from someone else’s eyes and ears. And when I told my mom, she said, “Don’t you know that just makes God smile?” I agree. When children pray earnestly, God hears them earnestly.
July 25th, 2007
For those of you that believe babies should be seen and not heard, well good luck with that. But, I found a site today that sells products with a heavenly message. Check out Blessed Baby for more info. Also, enter this contest to win a onesie from Blessed Baby. These would be cute for baby shower gifts, and I plan on getting Kennedy one that says “Faith Baby”, to match her middle name. 
July 11th, 2007
So its time for another video update. These videos are a few weeks old, but show some pretty cute things. Colby has really taken on the role of “Big Brother” quite well. He loves Kennedy and kisses her all the time.
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Kennedy has been smiling a lot lately, but this video is from some of her first smiling a few weeks ago. What a cutie:
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And last but not least is Kennedy with her favorite item right now, the bird. This is a little blanket with a bird that moves around and “tweets”. It was one of Colby’s favorite toys as well.
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July 8th, 2007
Yay for new pictures Kevin uploaded last night. Still working on getting Colby’s old pictures posted.
More Kennedy/Colby pics to come, plus videos.
June 28th, 2007
I have often wondered why we have middle names… most (some?) of us are not called by our middle names, and unless they are family names, there really is not a point, except to sound pretty.
My middle name is Renee. Why? My parents liked the sound of it. Plus, it would roll right off their tongue when I was in trouble: “JENNA RENEE!” Kevin’s middle name is Matthew. Why? His parents liked Matthew for a middle name. But, when we were first dating, I found a verse for him that has become his favorite - Matthew 6:34…
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
When we were first married, we also did a wonderful verse-by-verse study of the book of Matthew in Sunday School. Coincidence of Matthew? I don’t know. But, I know that there are no coincidences with God.
Fast-forward to Colby’s birth. We knew we wanted to name him Colby but we weren’t sure of his middle name.. we wanted it to be Biblical, but we just weren’t sure until we really talked about it and decided on Joshua. One of our favorite family Scriptures is Joshua 24:15 -
“Choose for yourself, this day, whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
We love that Joshua was such a warrior for God. He was a leader, a conqueror, and a musician! (See Joshua 6; maybe Colby will play the trumpet?) So, for Colby’s dedication, we read Joshua 1:9 -
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
We wanted to pray this for Colby (and all our kids) because we know how tough the world can be. With God on our side, there is no one against us.
Kennedy’s middle name is Faith. We also thought about some other Biblical middle names and even Renee. But, when she was born, we looked at her and knew that’s what it should be. While I was pregnant with her, I did Beth Moore’s study, “Believing God”. (Beth Moore writes wonderful Bible studies with women in mind, but men can do them as well, and in fact, I know many men that have enjoyed her studies. I highly recommend them.)
The main premise in Believing God is Hebrews 11, which has been dubbed the Faith Chapter of the Bible. Brother Tim calls it “The All-Star List of Faith” because many of the Verses begin with, “By faith…” and continue with a list of how Biblical giants (and some unsung heroes) have shown faith in their life. I love that this chapter starts with, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Isn’t that the very essence of pregnancy? I had so many hopes and dreams for Kennedy, and I couldn’t even see her! At first, I had to have faith that she really was in my womb, and at the end, I had to have faith that she really was going to come out!
The specific Verse we chose for Kennedy is Hebrews 11:6 -
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
I will not pretend that I earnestly seek God as much as I should, but I know that He has rewarded us with two wonderful children. And, it is our prayer that Kennedy (and Colby!) would come to know their Heavenly Father and earnestly seek Him daily.
Not many people ask my kids’ middle names and if they do, they don’t ask why we gave them that name… But my hope is that they can use their middle names for God’s glory and to increase His Kingdom!
May 30th, 2007
Kennedy will be 6 weeks old on Wednesday, and she is opening her eyes more and more. She’s also smiling! I love to see her little mouth make a big toothless grin. At 3 weeks old, she weighed 9 lbs., 4 oz., and was 22.5″ long. She is growing and eating well… and spitting. 
The doctor says she doesn’t have reflux or any sort of medical problem, she just spits. I’m hoping she outgrows it soon. My mom said I spit up a lot when I was a baby. And, I’m not spitting up now, so she will be okay. It does give me a very good reason to use all the cute clothes we got! We don’t go anywhere without multiple outfits (and burp rags!) in her diaper bag. Colby never spit up, he just peed all over creation, so we had to do the same thing, minus the burp rags.
When Kennedy cries, Colby says, “Kendy cwying!”, like, ‘Do something about it! Fix it!’ He is a very good big brother to his little sister.
Speaking of, we have a 2 year-old in the house! AAAAAAHHHHH!! Life is definitely an adventure. We had a fun birthday party last weekend with mostly family and a few of Colby’s friends from church. It was a challenge to try and fit all our family and friends inside our house, but we managed quite well!
The weather was beautiful; the forecast was 90 degrees but it ended up only being in the low 80s, and there was a lovely breeze while we ate in the backyard. Kevin grilled burgers and they were wonderfully tasty.
Colby’s latest thing is the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars” . He LOVES it and watches a few minutes before naptime and bedtime. He tells me, “Lightning 5 minutes!” (The main character’s name - the little red car - is Lightning McQueen.) Sometimes, if we’re in the car going home for naptime, I’ll think, “He’ll fall asleep in the car and I’ll just put him in bed.” But, his little voice will pop up as soon as we get into the garage, and he says, “Lightning 5 minutes!” Funny kid.
Almost blew out the candle!
We got Colby a Lightning birthday cake. It was very cute, but because there was lots and lots of blue, black, and green icing, there was lots of icing all over the kids’ clothes at the party.
Gabriella
The Birthday Boy
Yesterday (on Mother’s Day!) as I looked at my two gorgeous children, I realized how very blessed I am. I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count all my blessings. But, I am out of time now! Goodbye for now!
May 14th, 2007
Well, I tried to get the old gallery fired back up again but the “little computer that could” just wouldn’t. So, I’ve setup a new installation of the latest and greatest installation of Gallery and uploaded some pics of Kennedy. As soon as I get the chance I will start moving all the other pictures over so that I can post some new ones of Colby as well. Enjoy!
April 12th, 2007
Wow, what a difference a week makes. Kennedy is now one week old and I can’t believe it’s gone by so fast. I realize 3 of those days were spent in the hospital. (Yes, 3 days… sometime I’ll tell the whole gruesome story about why we spent 3 full days there when I didn’t have a c-section, but right now I’m still mad. I guess that’s my penance (sp?) for having such a quick delivery. Ha!)
Things at home have been interesting. Did I mention Colby is turning 2 in a few weeks? I think that just about speaks for itself. He is incredibly sweet with his baby sister and is such a helper with handing us diapers, picking out Kennedy’s clothes, throwing away trash, picking up toys, washing dishes… But, he wants independence and control! “No” and “mine” are his (and any other normal 2 year-old’s) two favorite words. I’m not getting much sleep yet, but I didn’t expect to either. Kevin has been wonderful to let me sleep in the mornings while he takes care of Colby, and then I handle the middle of the night stuff, for the most part. However, Kevin’s returning to work tomorrow and it’s just me and the kids. Oh boy.
On the other hand, things are going really well. I am so much further ahead than I was with Colby as far as nursing, sleeping, housework, and thank-you notes go! There are just some things that I was way more comfortable and assertive doing this time, which is one of the reasons I think my delivery went so quickly. I am very thankful the Lord has given us this precious baby girl and we are going to love and spoil her the best we can! Thanks everyone for your well-wishes and prayers; they have definitely been felt. Oh, and Kevin is working on putting more pictures up; we’re trying to find cables and cords and computers (oh my!).
[random_side_note]so ABC has a new tv show coming out called “Life in the Underbelly” or something like that. It’s about pregnancy and delivery and first-time parents. I hope it’s funny and clean.[/random_side_note]
April 11th, 2007
She’s here! After about 8 weeks of annoying contractions (annoying for Jenna, not me) Jenna has finally delivered. She went into full labor at about 7 this morning, we got to the hospital at about 8:15, and then she was born at 9:09. Yeah, FAST! She still hasn’t been weighed or anything, but we have her and her name is Kennedy Faith. Sorry if you haven’t gotten a call yet, it has been crazy and we’ve spent time with her. I’ll post more updates as we have them.
Update:
Here’s all the technical specs
Kennedy Faith
April 4, 2007 @ 9:09am
8lbs 0oz
20 1/4″ long
Update 2:
April 4th, 2007
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